There comes a time, when, after working hard, struggling, doing the whole jig, the rigmarole, you achieve your basics.

Well done. Pat on your back.

Then you secure these basics.

Forever.

If you can.

Wonderful. More pats.

Worry factor is now out of the equation.

Your family is secure.

Food, safety, education, all basics intact.

Fantastic. You deserve an award. Not that anyone’s going to give you one. Frankly, nobody could care less. Never mind. You know in your mind that you’ve achieved a milestone, and that’s enough for you.

Whats the next step…

…for you?

Jugular.

What is this jugular?

Multiplier.

X-factor.

Call it what you will.

What does this mysterious thing do?

Better question is, what is it capable of?

You’re looking to multiply your networth.

Isn’t everyone?

This is different.

Why?

Because it is coming as a logical conclusion, and not as a first-step with no experience and no secure basics.

You’re keeping your head-earned basics secure.

Nothing is touching these. You’ll be surprised at the kind of courage secure basics give you to act further.

Next, you’ve identified an area where your skill-set can be leveraged into huge profits with minimal risk.

Specifically in the market, these areas are abundant.

So what exactly will you be doing?

Playing on a minuscule portion of your net worth. Let’s say not more than 2 %.

That’s good news for you, because 44). equity takes care of the number one wealth-eater (inflation) for you.

All world equity ever quoted, whether currently existing or not, has 45). returned 6% per annum compounded, adjusted for inflation.

46). All equity ever quoted that still exists has yielded 11% per annum compounded, adjusted for inflation.

Equity selected with good due diligence, common-sense and adherence to basic rules listed here and in previous articles is 47). well-capable of yielding 15%+ per annum compounded, adjusted for inflation.

However, equity is 48). a battle of nerves, at times.

This asset-class is 49). more about creating long-term wealth.

It can be used, though, to 50). generate income through trading.

51). Trading, however, is burdened with more taxation, commission-generation and sheer tension.

Trading equity 52). eats up your day.

Investing in equity 53). gives you enough room to pursue many other activities during your day.

We’re too busy doing this doing that, always, forever. We don’t know how to conserve energy and build up reserves. Those who do then use their reserves to carry forward their strategies upon the arrival of a shock.

We’ve been taught to avoid, and move on. Life’s too full of BS that needs to be avoided. However, coming out during shocks needs courage. Face the enemy, and fight.

Seventhly, and perhaps this should have been on the top of the list, common-sense.

Who has common-sense?

Almost no one.

Why?

We’re too busy being complicated and sophisticated. We want to portray falsehood. We miss the forest for the trees. However, shocks are tackled with common-sense. Simplicity in thinking is paramount. The simplest ideas making the most sense are also the most successful ones.

Eighthly, long-term vision.

Who has vision?

Handful of people.

Why?

We’re too near-sighted. We want instant gratification. However, a shock presents excellent ground to root yourself in for the long-term. Understand this, and you’ll have understood a lot.

I could go on.

That’s quite enough though.

Above are eight points to think about, to be seen as eight weapons that need sharpening, to come out fighting in the age of shocks.

Do you like to play without challenge? Where you won’t be pushed, to your limit perhaps? Where you know the solutions? Where you’re king?

Or, do you like the game to challenge you? The game pushes you around. You don’t know the solutions. You’re not king. Do you like that kind of game?

Why am I asking?

Well, simply because I concern myself with growth.

As in evolution.

I measure life in evolution per unit time.

The latter kind of game evolves you. You score heavily, though this might not show on the outside, yet. It will eventually. Big time. Promise.

The former kind of game deceives you. You kinda start believing you’re actually king, and start behaving like one too. The fall from a height can be so heavy, that it can decapacitate you, forever. Who would want that? Not even you. But you’re too busy playing king to remember. This is the reminder, right here, right now.

If you’re king, fine, be a good one. Do good to many. Make it count. In your spare time, though, do some other stuff which takes you into uncharted territory. That’ll round you off as a king.

What is it about uncharted territory?

Eventually you’ll find yourself in one. It just happens, suddenly.

What do you count upon?

Assets.

Ability to not panic.

Clear thinking.

Savings.

Relationships.

Gut-feel.

Courage.

Mental strength.

Fill in the blanks.

All of the above have to be developed / nurtured. In some way or the other, all of the above come by charting new territories. A new relationship is nurtured into a solid life-long asset. A new job becomes a steady earner. Savings accrue. Mental / intuitive assets strengthen themselves by being exposed to tricky situations. These will always be there for you, in your next situation.

Don’t be a bore. Take that calculated jump. No one’s asking you to jump off the cliff. However, times are such that you’ll need to think out of the box, again and again, and again.